Here is what some of the police officers of the
5th Precinct did on their own time. Bob Baumgart, Joe Mistretta
and Don Kelly drove the ‘Blue Bird Busses’ ( used to haul prisoners from the
County Jail to Jackson State Prison) with 80 kids and their chaperons from
the 5th Precinct Station to Edgewater Amusement Park ( the far
West side of Detroit) Then also were chaperons to the kids on some of the
rides. It was a big picnic for everyone, all free too.

(Pics by Jim Thomas)

(Pics by Jim Thomas)

Remember the article and pictures of painting
retired Detective Lieutenant Harold Hogan’s home you put in your Old Timers
Picture Page? Is it to soon to send you three more pictures I found in my
archives regarding painting his house that day? These pictures, of the
officers who painted that day, are very clear and the officers can easily be
identified. One picture is of District Inspector Henry Sedmak ‘self
appointed Chef’ for that day the other is Detective Lieutenant James W.
Thomas painting Hogan’s house. The other picture is part of the crew that
day

Note:

Compassion, and just plain
friendship was their motto.

A hard working group from the Detroit Police
Department’s Detective Division. Doing something decent for a fellow human
being on his own time. How can the present day Media or politicians claim
the ‘Old Timers’ were so bad?

(Pics by Jim Thomas)

(Pics by Jim Thomas)

OK, don't ask me why. This is for all of you
that have moved from the city and miss the memories of the citizenry. I
was driving through Rouge Park & after seeing this display had to turn
around and share with you all. I am disappointed that the shot wasn't
closer so that you can appreciate the two bird baths with flowered swans
among the chairs. Wedding, funeral, home coming from DeHoCo? you pick.
No, I don't know who's shoe. Compliments of Bosco. What I want to
know is what he was doing there.

The first Precinct Narcotic
Unit 5TH. Precinct

Original Precinct
Narcotic Unit. Back row left to right" Executive Lieut. James W. Thomas,
Sergt. Robert Campbell, Patr. John Turney.Joe Sweeney. Jim Keck, Vic Peg, Art
Carrier & Fred VanAntwerp. Sitting at the typewriter is Patr.
Keith Miller and standing next to him (black shirt) is Patr. Victor Peg.
Hopefully someone will remember the other names.. Bottom Left to Right, Mike Zamieski, Keith
Miller, Dick Mussetti, Also I've
included a tribute to those officers..Jim Thomas.

Give them a ‘Hand Salute’

By

James W. Thomas

A ‘hand salute’, should be given, by Detroit Police Officers, to Lieutenant
Howard Austin and the patrolmen of the 5th Precinct who were the Pilot
Program
of the Precinct Narcotic Unit, in 1969-1970.
Commissioner John Nichols selected Lieutenant Howard Austin of the Narcotic
Bureau, along with an attorney well versed in Search and Seizure Warrants
dealing with the Narcotic Laws, to establish the Precinct Narcotic Units.
The Fifth Precinct was selected for the Pilot Program.
The 5th. Precinct patrolman in this photo volunteered their time to learn;
to identify the various types of narcotics, to use the field test unit,
importance of ‘Informants’,
and for surveillance. Also “ three narcotic purchase Rule”. They also
instituted the use of the two-man Ramrod to knock down the doors to the
Narcotic Dens.
The Fifth Precinct Pilot Program was a success.
Lieutenant Howard Austin then contacted the other Precinct Executive
Lieutenants to set up their Precinct Narcotic Unit. In 1971 Precinct
Narcotic Units
were operating in all thirteen precincts in the Detroit Police Department.

This was the class off 100 new Policemen. We
worked 6 days a week every other month or so they added another leave day.
Classes came out every month for about a year, with approximately 100 in
each class. Six months after being out on the street you went back to the
Academy for two more weeks of training. After about a year or so we went to
a 5 day week program. There were about 6 classmates killed in the line of
duty, 4 or more were fired for various reasons.

This was the front page picture on the Detroit
Times. Thank you Al Balogh who retired in 1972

Back in
1966 I was a Lieutenant transferred to the Detective Division Control Center. There I met
Detective Lieutenant Harold Hogan. He already had 40 some years on theDepartment. He was a
"fixture" in the Detective Division, respected by everyone, Superintendent,
Deputy Chief of Detectives etc.We hit it off together, worked the same shift, became good
friends. On the 10pm to 6am shift, around 3am he'd tell me about when he came on the
Department. The RoaringTwenties. Bootleggers, Purple gang blowing up business places with
their Protectionracket. I learned Detroit Police Department History.In 1967 his wife
became ill, so he decided to retire. He refused to have a RetirementParty. I suggested to
the Deputy chief of Detectives Bloomfield about painting his house because he told me he
was going to sell it and move to Milford, Michigan with his daughter and be near the
Nursing Home his wife is in.One Saturday 26 of us painted his house. Later sitting in
the Control Center looking at the straight back wooden chair Hogan sat in, and no one else
would sit in it. It was his "chair". I called Maintenance, a friend of mine was
in charge. He told me to remove the metal tag from the chair( City of Detroit,Property of
Detroit Police Department) return it to him and the chair was mine to give to Lieutenant
Harold Hogan. I also had a bronze plaque made to place on the upper front ofthe chair, it
said," Any man can walk in another man's shoes, but no one, no one can sit in
Lieutenant Harold Hogan's chair". It had his date of appointment and date of
retirement on it too.The Detective Division took up a collection, $600.00 and District
Inspector Sedmac and I went to Harold Hogan's house and presented him with the money and
" his chair". A lot of old time Detectives will remember Lieutenant Harold
Hogan; painting his house; and "his chair".( Harold Hogan) put
in 47 yeas on the DPD, ( Harold's dad) put in 50 years with the DPD. Harold wanted to
make it 50 years too but his wife was to ill, had to go to a Nursing Home....Jim (From
James Thomas)

Bob
Hahnke, New Hampshire. Former DPD Officer. NHSP uniform with my car taken just
before I retired recently 2002.

JOHN
TURNEY JR., JOHN TURNEY SR. & LITTLE ERIC TURNEY. UP NEAR GLADWIN. Photo from Dan Budz (John Sr. was my
partner at ARU, & I worked with John Jr. at VCTF, don't think I'll be able to partner
up with Eric)

Party was held in early August, great get together, the people's came in from
New Mexico, Florida, East Coast and West Coast. There are some true legends in these
pictures, unfortunately Stumpy could not make it, but his picture will be in the group
from the mid to late 70's, along with Sgt. Dennis Barton, Sgt. Keith Miller,
yours truly, Sgt. Dick Graves, Mike Cowlings, Sgt. Pat Rourke,
Dave BelCastro, Bob Castro, Sam Agostino, Deb Michalak, Charlie Albright and many
more that I missed. Lot's of friends showed up, Rose & Leila Abraham,
Father Mike Cooney, unfortunately I embided in the grape and missed a lot
of pictures.

A picture is worth a thousands words, compare them then and
now!

Thanks,

Dick Graves

Class of 1973

(Photo from Tim Kelly)

Cadet Class of 1970

(Photo from Tim Kelly)

Here is one of my
dad taken in 1927, on Gratiot ave. Two years after he
started DPD. (Bob Leitzel)

Another photo my
father took while he headed the photo bureau of the Accident Prevention Bureau. This
was one of those fun photo's for the department, taken at the police field day. They
were great back then (Bob Leitzel)

Knights of Columbus
Class of 1950

(Photo by Bud
Lingeman)

The
Friday night meeting of the 3rd Floor powers to be preparting for the week-end, I think I
was stuck with the weekly duty officer. (Photo by Bud Lingeman)

1949 group - I'm at
the far left front. (Photo by Bud Lingeman)

12DB 1961 personnel.
(Photo by Bud Lingeman)

1949
picture of the 15th Pct. personnel at a party. I suspect it was at Hec's but at this
late date, I can't swear to it. There are some #5 guys mixed it orso
I'm told. (Photo by Bud Lingeman)

Taken in 1977 when the film, "The Betsy", was
being made in Detroit, this photo shows Ray Downing, Jim Oliver,
Sir Lawrence Olivier, and Ron Sexton. Sir Lawrence was a
class act. He really liked coppers. Photo was taken alongside Henry Ford
Hospital, where several scenes were shot.

Photo from (Ray
Downing)

1970's
Narcotic Section Photo (In Uniform)

(Photo's from Dick Graves)

The
brain surgeons on the Third floor ordered all narcotics section personnel to report to
various precincts for the election detail. See if anyone can I.D. these rascals.

Class
of 73_IThe TAC Officers are Sgt. Bob
Rossi, Officers Clyde Jenkins and Ron Gilmer. The Lt.
Is Jerry Miller. I'm in the 2nd row from the top, third from the left.From (Mike Kawa)

This picture was
taken 1987 in Detroit when they were shooting the movie in # 4, Rosary
Murders. L to R Steve
Livingston, Doug Blanchard (dec), Donald Southerland, Gene Napora (JEEP), and Mel Hines.Photo from Danny Budz